The NHL reduced the penalties that the New Jersey Devils were dealt when they signed forward Ilya Kovalchuk in 2010 to what was deemed a cap-circumventing contract, the league announced Thursday.

The Devils will have a first-round draft pick this year but it will come in the No. 30 slot despite where they finish in the standings..

Originally New Jersey was fined $3 million, lost a third-round draft pick in 2011 and would also lose a first-round pick.

After electing to keep their pick for the first three years, this was going to be the year the Devils gave up their first-rounder.

"The New Jersey Devils will now be entitled to the 30th selection overall in the 2014 NHL Draft (the last pick in the first round), regardless of the Devils' final standing following the 2013/14 season," the NHL said in a statement. "The Club will not be permitted to trade or transfer its right to the 30th overall selection in the 2014 NHL Draft. The Club's fine has been partially reduced."

Kovalchuk surprised the league last year by calling it quits on his NHL career, but then signed a four-year contract with SKA St. Petersburg of the KHL.

Kovalchuk retired from the NHL, just three years removed from signing a 15-year, $100 million contract with the Devils. Kovalchuk still had $77 million remaining on the deal.

HASEK HALL-BOUND

The Dominator is going into the Hall of Fame.

Six-time Vezina Trophy winner Dominik Hasek will be inducted into the Buffalo Sabres Hall of Fame March 29 at First Niagara Center. The ceremony will be held before the Sabres play the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Hasek, the first goalie to win the Hart Trophy twice, played 491 games for the Sabres after being acquired from the Chicago Blackhawks in 1992. He holds the franchise record for wins (234), shutouts (55) and career goals-against average (2.22).

Hasek will be the 42nd player inducted into the Sabres Hall of Fame. He is eligible to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame this year.

GORGES SENT HOME

Josh Gorges' western road trip ended a bit early.

The Montreal Canadiens defenceman was sent home Thursday to have his injured hand evaluated by medical staff. An MRI done Wednesday showed that Gorges has a fracture in his hand.

Gorges did not play Thursday in Phoenix and will miss at least the next game -- Saturday in San Jose -- but no timeline for his return has been set.

The 29-year-old, who has one goal and 12 assists in 63 games, averages more than 21 minutes of ice time. It is expected newly acquired defenceman Mike Weaver will take Gorges spot in the lineup.

CAPS DON'T LAICH IT

Washington Capitals forward Brooks Laich, who has been dealing with nagging groin issues for the past two seasons, is hurting again.

Laich didn't play Thursday against the Boston Bruins after getting hurt Wednesday in Philadelphia. He was sent back to Washington to have the injured looked at by team staff.

The Capitals called up forward Chris Brown, who was acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes Tuesday, to take Laich's spot in the lineup.

In other news, prospect Evgeni Kuznetsov has left Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL to play for the Caps. The 21-year-old forward terminated his contract with Chelyabinsk on Thursday, according to the KHL's Facebook page.